Real-time image processing and printing control in card personalization machines

Abstract

Systems and methods where at least one intended printing parameter of a printing mechanism of a card personalization system is modified in real-time to a new printing parameter just prior to printing on the card to tailor the printing parameter(s) from one card to the next. The modification of the intended printing parameter(s) may occur after the card has been input from a card input of the card personalization system. The printing parameter(s) used by the printing mechanism to print on each card can be modified in real-time so that the printing that is performed on each card can be improved.

1 . A method of printing an image on a card in a card personalization system having a printing mechanism, comprising:
 inputting the card onto a card path of the card personalization system from a card input;   after the card is input onto the card path, processing image data of the image to be printed on the card and based on the processing modifying an intended printing parameter to a new printing parameter;   and   printing at least a portion of the image on the card in the printing mechanism using the new printing parameter.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein processing the image data occurs during programming of a chip on the card in the card personalization system or after the programming of the chip on the card in the card personalization system. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein processing the image data occurs during magnetic encoding of a magnetic strip on the card in the card personalization system or after the magnetic encoding of the magnetic strip on the card in the card personalization system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the printing is drop-on-demand printing or thermal printing from a print ribbon. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the printed portion of the image is a multi-color image. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the image is a background image. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the card is formed at least partially from polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein processing the image data includes generating a plurality of color planes. 
     
     
         9 . A method of printing images on cards in a card personalization system having a printing mechanism, comprising:
 printing in sequence in the printing mechanism a first image on a first card and a second image on a second card;   wherein printing the first image on the first card comprises using a first set of printing parameters that are generated after the first card is input from a card input onto a card path of the card personalization system, the first set of printing parameters includes at least one new first printing parameter that is generated based on an intended first printing parameter;   wherein printing the second image on the second card comprises using a second set of printing parameters that are generated after the second card is input from the card input mechanism onto the card path of the card personalization system, the second set of printing parameters includes at least one new second printing parameter that is generated based on an intended second printing parameter; and   the second set of printing parameters differs from the first set of printing parameters.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one new first printing parameter is generated during programming of a chip on the first card or after the programming of the chip on the first card, and the at least one new second printing parameter is generated during programming of a chip on the second card or after the programming of the chip on the second card. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one new first printing parameter is generated during magnetic encoding of a magnetic strip on the first card or after the magnetic encoding of the magnetic strip on the first card, and the at least one new second printing parameter is generated during magnetic encoding of a magnetic strip on the second card or after the magnetic encoding of the magnetic strip on the second card. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the printing mechanism is configured to perform drop-on-demand printing or thermal printing from a print ribbon. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first image and the second image are each a multi-color image. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first image and the second image are each a background image. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first card and the second card are each formed at least partially from polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising processing first image data of the first image to generate a plurality of first color planes, and processing second image data of the second image to generate a plurality of second color planes. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising printing first personal data on the first card and printing second personal data on the second card, and the first personal data differs from the second personal data. 
     
     
         18 . A method of printing images on cards in a card personalization system having a printing mechanism, comprising:
 printing in sequence in the printing mechanism a first image on a first card and a second image on a second card;   wherein printing the first image on the first card comprises using a first set of printing parameters, the first set of printing parameters includes at least one new first printing parameter that is generated based on an intended first printing parameter;   wherein printing the second image on the second card comprises using a second set of printing parameters, the second set of printing parameters includes at least one new second printing parameter that is generated based on an intended second printing parameter; and   the second set of printing parameters differs from the first set of printing parameters.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising generating the at least one new first printing parameter after the first card is input from a card input onto a card path of the card personalization system; and generating the at least one new second printing parameter after the second card is input from the card input onto the card path of the card personalization system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising generating the first set of printing parameters prior to the first card being input from a card input onto a card path of the card personalization system; and generating the second set of printing parameters prior to the second card being input from the card input onto the card path of the card personalization system. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , comprising generating the first set of printing parameters and generating the second set of printing parameters at a location physically separate from the card personalization system.